About Sphyraena jello Cuvier, 1829
Morphology and biology: The pickhandle barracuda (Sphyraena jello) has a silver body marked by around 20 wavy bars and additional dark markings along its body. These dark markings fade when the fish is preserved. Its tail fin is yellow. Like many other barracuda species, it has an underbite. Sphyraena jello feeds after releasing its gonads to spawn; this release creates space that increases the stomach's capacity to support proper feeding. In the Persian Gulf, Sphyraena jello spawns during October and November. Distribution and habitat: The pickhandle barracuda occurs across many areas of the Pacific Ocean. It typically forms schools that swim in the Pacific Ocean's tropical waters, especially around coral reefs. At night, pickhandle barracudas begin to hunt. They can be found at depths ranging from 2 to 200 meters.
